Biodegradable synthetic turf yarn

Abstract

The invention is directed to a synthetic turf yarn, to a method of preparing said synthetic turf yarn, to artificial turf comprising said synthetic turf yarn, and to a method of preparing artificial turf. The synthetic turf yarn of the invention comprises an aliphatic polyester and a copolyester of butanediol, terephthalic acid and a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid.

1 . Synthetic turf yarn, comprising an aliphatic polyester and a copolyester of butanediol, terephthalic acid and a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid, said synthetic turf yarn further comprising. 
     
     
         2 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said linear dicarboxylic acid is sebacic acid and said copolyester is copoly(butylene sebacate-co-terephthalate). 
     
     
         3 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said linear dicarboxylic acid is adipic acid and said copolyester is copoly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate). 
     
     
         4 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of said copolyester in said yarn is 30-100% by total weight of the yarn, preferably 40-98%, such as %, or 60-90%. 
     
     
         5 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said aliphatic polyester comprises or is one or more selected from the group consisting of polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate, or polybutylene sebacate. 
     
     
         6 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said aliphatic polyester is polybutylene succinate. 
     
     
         7 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein the content of said aliphatic polyester in said yarn is 1-70% by total weight of the yarn, preferably 2-60%, such as 5-50%, or 10-40%. 
     
     
         8 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio between the copolyester and the aliphatic polyester is 40:60 to 90:10, preferably 45:55 to 80:20, such as 50:50 to 70:30. 
     
     
         9 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein said copolyester is copoly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and wherein said aliphatic polyester is polybutylene succinate. 
     
     
         10 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 9 , wherein the weight ratio of said copoly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) to said polybutylene succinate in the synthetic turf yarn is 1.0 or lower, such as 0.8 or lower, 0.6 or lower, in the range of 0.1-0.5, or in the range of 0.1-0.4. 
     
     
         11 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , further comprising natural fibre. 
     
     
         12 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 11 , wherein said natural fibre is one or more selected from the group consisting of bast fibres, leaf fibres, grass fibres, straw fibres and seed fibres. 
     
     
         13 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 11 , wherein said natural fibre is present in an amount of up to 20% by total weight of the yarn, preferably 0.5-10, such as 1-5%. 
     
     
         14 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of fillers, compatibilisers, flame retardants, colouring agents, heat stabilisers, processing aids, antioxidants, UV-stabilisers, and pigments. 
     
     
         15 . Synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , wherein the yarn has a tenacity of the synthetic turf yarn, as measured at break according to BS EN 13864:2004, in the range of 1-50 cN/tex, preferably 3-30 cN/tex, more preferably 5-20 cN/tex. 
     
     
         16 . Method of preparing a synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 , comprising extruding a composition comprising an aliphatic polyester and a copolyester of butanediol, terephthalic acid and a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of succinic acid, adipic acid, and sebacic acid,
 wherein said extruding preferably comprises
 extruding the composition into a film which is subsequently cut into fibres or tapes, or 
 extruding the composition into filaments, and optionally weaving multiple individual filaments, to produce a synthetic turf yarn. 
   
     
     
         17 . Artificial turf, comprising synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . Artificial turf according to  claim 17 , further comprising a biodegradable infill material. 
     
     
         19 . Method of preparing an artificial turf, comprising inserting tufts of synthetic turf yarn according to  claim 1  in an artificial turf backing, and applying an adhesive to the back side of the backing.